2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Fiat 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

10,784 MOT tests in 2024. 54.2% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

95Below average
Passed first time54.2%
Failed or needed repairs45.8%
Typical mileage at test85,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 10,784 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements6.6%
  2. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak4.7%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.3%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.7%
  5. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side3.4%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect3.2%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.1%
  8. Position lamp: not working3.1%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    419 marked dangerous
  10. Stop lamp: not working2.4%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension28.8%
  2. Lights & electrics26.7%
  3. Brakes26.2%
  4. Body & chassis9.4%
  5. Tyres8.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks8.1%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened18.7%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.5%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure13.1%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases11.9%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year fails more often than most cars its age, so budget for repairs and check the history carefully. Before buying, check the area that fails most: rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2007 500All 500 years2009 500 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Fiat 500?

In 2024, 54.2% of 2008 Fiat 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 10,784 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Fiat 500?

The most common failure reasons were rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2008 Fiat 500 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 95, which is below average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).